Nashville State, Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center Partnership Creates Pathways to Healthcare Careers
A new partnership between Nashville State Community College and Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center is opening doors for residents.
This partnership enables interested residents to launch careers as medical assistants, one of the most in-demand roles in healthcare.
Orchestrated by and led through the college’s Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education, the training is being supported by the Ready to Reconnect workforce development program.
As part of this initiative, the medical assistant training program spans nine (9) weeks, which includes a week-long orientation and 8 weeks of clinical and classroom work, equating to 32 hours per week.
Since Summer 2025, Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center has provided paid clinical placements to two cohorts and will begin the third in February.
To date, three Ready to Reconnect medical assistant students have transitioned into full-time roles at the health center.
An additional six students who have held clinicals at the health center have transitioned into full-time healthcare roles at other partner sites or regional health systems.
“We are thrilled to partner with Nashville State Community College on this meaningful initiative for our community,” said Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center CEO Katrina Beard. “This program will open the door for many individuals to begin a rewarding and sustainable career in health care, and we are proud to help expand pathways to opportunity.”
“Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center has been an amazing and forward-thinking community-based healthcare partner, offering both training and long-term employment pathways for adult learners,” said the Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education’s Director of Healthcare Partnerships, John Cunningham. “The partnership directly contributes to workforce development efforts in underserved communities across Middle Tennessee.”
Nashville State’s ongoing collaboration with UpRise Nashville—an organization focused on empowering adults seeking career transformation—has expanded the reach of this workforce initiative. Several UpRise leaders recently completed the Ready to Reconnect medical assistant training cohort, gaining hands‑on clinical experience at MWCHC that helps bridge local residents into high‑demand healthcare roles.
Graduates of the program achieve certification as National Healthcareer Association Certified Clinical Medical Assistants at a rate consistent with the national standard.
To learn more about the Ready to Reconnect program and other Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education initiatives and programs, email workforce@nscc.edu, or visit https://campusce.nscc.edu/nashvillestate/category/category.aspx.
